The mystery of lightning: the magic of nature
Lightning, one of the most spectacular phenomena in nature, has been an important subject for scientists. It attracts the eyes of countless people in its unique form, at an alarming rate and with enormous energy. How's the lightning formed? How powerful is it? This paper will give you insight into this magical natural phenomenon。
The principles of lightning
Lightning is due to the imbalance in the distribution of charge in the atmosphere, which results in an insulation of power between positive and negative charges above the insulation of air, resulting in discharge. Specifically, lightning formation can be divided into the following steps:
1. Earning separation: in thunderstorm clouds, friction between crystals and crystals or between crystals and drops of ice produces static effects, resulting in positive charges on the upper part of the cloud and negative charges on the lower part。
2. Strengthening of the electric field: with the accumulation of charge, the power gap between the positive charge on the upper part of the cloud and the negative charge on the lower part of the cloud is gradually increasing and the intensity of the electric field is increasing。
Emission channels form: when the intensity of the field reaches a certain value, gaseous molecules in the air are ionized to form a conductive air channel known as the “molniya channel”。
Main discharge: when the charge is discharged rapidly along the lightning channel, bright lightning is generated. This process is usually accompanied by strong shock waves and high temperatures, which can heat the air around at short notice to tens of thousands of degrees celsius。
5. Dynamite discharge: when the main discharge is completed, the current in the lightning channel will continue for some time, producing a weak light and sound, which is the residual discharge。
The type of lightning
According to the shape and characteristics of lightning, lightning can be divided into the following types:
1. Cloud flash: this is the most common type of lightning, accounting for over 90 per cent of all lightning. A flash of clouds, which is directly connected to the ground from the cloud layer, has a variety of shapes, including vertical lightning, horizontal lightning, branch lightning, etc。
(b) cloud lightning: the cloud lightning means lightning between two clouds, with discharge paths swinging around and around the cloud either within or between the clouds。
3. Lightning in the clouds: the lightning in the clouds is lightning within a single cloud layer, usually created by a collision between a cloud drop and hail。
Sphere lightning: sphere lightning is a rare type of lightning expressed as a luminous sphere. The causes are not yet entirely clear and may be related to plasma rotation and proliferation。
The power of lightning
Lightning has great power and great energy and destructive power. Here are some data and facts on lightning power:
Electricity: it is estimated that a typical cloud lightning carried approximately 100 million joules (equivalent to 30 kg of explosive tnt). And a large cloud lightning can carry even close to a billion joules。
Temperature: temperature in a lightning channel can be as high as 20,000 to 30,000°c, much higher than on the surface of the sun. This extremely high temperature is sufficient for the immediate expansion of the surrounding air to produce a strong shock wave。
Destruction power: lightning has extreme penetration and destructive power. It can easily penetrate trees, buildings and other objects and can even leave large pits a few metres in diameter on the ground. In addition, lightning can have serious consequences such as forest fires and power system failures。
Scope of impact: although the range of each lightning discharge is relatively small (usually a few dozen metres), lightning activity is usually accompanied by large amounts of charge separation and discharge, resulting in thousands or more lightning during a thunderstorm. This makes lightning one of the most active weather phenomena in the atmosphere。
Concluding remarks
Lightning, as a natural phenomenon, is both amazing and dangerous. Understanding the principles, types and power of lightning helps us to better understand and respond to this magical natural phenomenon. At the same time, through the study of lightning, scientists are constantly revealing patterns of energy transfer and material movements in the atmosphere, which bring many useful insights and contributions to the development of human society. In the future, with advances in science and technology and the deepening of human exploration of nature, we have reason to believe that human beings will uncover more mysterious veils about lightning and further enrich our knowledge and understanding of this natural wonder。
